Hearo

What it does

Hearo is a smart wearable system that alerts people with hearing impairments to important sounds through gentle vibrations during sleep. By recognizing these sounds in real time, it helps reduce nighttime anxiety and promotes restful sleep.

Your inspiration

The idea for Hearo began when I saw a person with hearing impairment setting an alarm before going to bed, worrying whether they would wake up on time. Through research, I learned that people with hearing impairments are up to seven times more likely to suffer from sleep disorders than the general population. To solve this problem, I recalled my time in the Navy when I used a vibrating alarm on my electronic watch to wake up early for night watch duty. Building on this memory, I developed a device that delivers important sounds through vibrations, helping people with hearing impairments sleep more safely and comfortably.

How it works

The name Hearo combines “Hearing” and the ring-shaped “O,” symbolizing a hero who alleviates the worries of people with hearing impairments. Hearo consists of a hub and a ring. The hub, which resembles the shape of an ear, serves as both a charging station for the ring and a sound detection device. Through the app, users can select the sounds they wish to be alerted to, and through personalized settings, they can monitor their health. When the hub’s AI detects the chosen sounds, it triggers a vibration in the ring to notify the user. Additionally, Hearo utilizes bio-information such as photoplethysmography (PPG) and heart rate sensors to monitor the user’s sleep patterns and analyze their health. Designed for comfort during sleep, Hearo is made from a low thermal conductivity plastic instead of metal, making it much lighter and preventing discomfort from cold metal contact during the night.

Design process

The design process for Hearo began with a simple but powerful observation: people with hearing impairments often struggle to wake up on time because they cannot hear traditional alarm sounds while sleeping. This led to an initial concept of creating a more accessible wake-up solution tailored to their needs. However, during brainstorming and deeper research, I discovered that the problem extended far beyond just alarm clocks—many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals also miss critical sounds such as fire alarms, crying babies, or phone calls during sleep. A study revealed that people with hearing impairments are up to seven times more likely to suffer from sleep disorders compared to the general population. In response, I developed a concept involving a dedicated receiver that recognizes sounds in real time and a vibration-based smart ring that delivers those alerts discreetly during sleep. Considering various room sizes and sleeping environments, I created cardboard and 3D-printed mock-ups to test different dimensions and determine the optimal scale. For the receiver’s form, I took visual inspiration from the shape of the human ear and modeled the final design using Rhino CAD.

How it is different

Unlike existing products that rely on visual alerts or smartphone vibrations, Hearo delivers important sounds through real-time AI-based sound recognition and discreet vibration via a smart ring during sleep. Most existing solutions are either not wearable during sleep or require the user to stay visually aware. Hearo is unique in that it allows people with hearing impairments to sleep safely without wearing hearing aids, while still staying connected to important auditory cues like fire alarms, crying babies, or barking dogs. The system consists of a dedicated sound receiver and a lightweight vibration ring, which work together seamlessly, offering a non-intrusive, intuitive, and emotionally reassuring experience that current products fail to provide.

Future plans

Hearo was awarded the Red Dot Award: Best of the Best and the iF Design Student Award, affirming the value and potential of the idea. To turn it into a real product, further technical development is needed—starting with the internal hardware design, followed by AI training to improve sound recognition accuracy. This will ensure reliable detection of important, user-defined sounds like fire alarms or crying babies. My goal is to build a fully working prototype and exhibit it at CES. Ultimately, Hearo aims to help people with hearing impairments sleep safely and with peace of mind by making crucial sounds accessible, even during rest.

Awards

2025 Red Dot Award Design Concept: Best of the Best / 2025 iF Design Student Award: Winner